JP2712565B2 - Answering machine - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an answering machine, and more particularly, to an answering machine which records a response message sent from a semiconductor memory at the time of an incoming call on a magnetic tape. It is suitable for use.

[Summary of the Invention]

If an operation for canceling the new response message is performed before the response message newly written in the semiconductor memory is transferred and recorded on the magnetic tape for storage, the old response message recorded on the magnetic tape is reproduced and This is an answering machine that allows the user to freely select whether to leave a newly recorded message or an old response message recorded before rewriting by restoring to the semiconductor memory.

[Conventional technology]

In a so-called answering machine, in which an incoming call is recorded while answering, generally, when a call is received, a response message to the effect that an answering call is to be made is first sent to a caller, and then the answering message is used. I try to record the matter. In such an answering machine,
For example, there is a device provided with a message function that can convey a message to a specific person, such as a mother to a child.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a telephone answering machine having a response message or a message message function, a cassette tape or a memory IC is mainly used as a recording medium for the message. Then, the response message is recorded in the memory IC, the response message is transmitted from the memory IC when an incoming call is received, and the message sent from the caller can be immediately recorded on the cassette tape.

A response message recording area is provided at the beginning of the cassette tape, and after confirming and reproducing the response message written in the memory IC, the response message is automatically transferred and recorded on the magnetic tape. When the power is lost due to a power failure, etc., recovery is possible.

By the way, when a recording for rewriting a response message is performed, a satisfactory response message may not be recorded due to a lot of ambient noise or a poor syntax. In such cases memory
The IC is again operated in the write mode, and another response message is rewritten to erase the unsatisfactory response message.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

For example, when an external telephone is used to remotely rewrite a response message, there may be no time for rewriting. Unsatisfactory response messages will remain in the memory IC if there is no time to rewrite, but it is better to leave the response message before rewriting in the memory IC than to leave an unsatisfactory new response message. There is. However, since the response message written in the memory IC is erased by writing a new response message, it is lost at the end of the writing.

The response message written in the memory IC is reproduced for confirmation and immediately transferred to and recorded on a magnetic tape.
Therefore, the old response message does not remain on the tape.

For this reason, conventionally, when a newly written response message is unsatisfactory, there is no other choice but to rewrite it by rewriting.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, the present invention allows a user to freely select which of a newly recorded response message or a response message recorded before rewriting is left in a recording medium when rewriting and recording a response message. The purpose is to.

[Means for solving the problem]

The answering machine of the present invention comprises: a recording / reproducing device 9 in the semiconductor memory 6 in which a response message OGM to be transmitted at the time of an incoming call is written; a recording / reproducing device 15 on a magnetic tape 14 for recording the caller's requirements; At the time of recording the response message,
A recording / reproduction control circuit (system controller 5) for mutually transferring response messages between the semiconductor memory 6; the upper recording / reproduction control circuit 5 stores the response message written in the semiconductor memory 6 for storing the magnetic tape 14; If the cancel operation is performed before the transfer, the old response message already recorded on the magnetic tape 14 is transferred to the semiconductor memory 6 in response to the operation.

[Action]

Recording / reproducing device 9 for semiconductor memory and recording / reproducing device 15 for magnetic tape
, The response message can be mutually transferred. Therefore, the response message OGM stored on the magnetic tape 14 can be returned to the semiconductor memory 6, and when the writing to the semiconductor memory 6 is completed, either the old or new response message can be freely selected and the recording medium 6 can be returned. , 14 can be left.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 is a main block diagram of an answering machine showing an embodiment of the present invention.

When the telephone line 2 is connected to the input / output terminals 1a and 1b and there is an incoming call while operating in the absence mode, a bell sound signal is input to these terminals 1a and 1b. This signal is led through the input / output device 3 to the system controller 5 having a microcomputer configuration. In addition, the tone decoder 4 decodes the dual tone input when the push button is pressed and derives the dual tone to the system controller 5.

The system controller 5 is provided to control the operation of the entire apparatus, and detects an incoming call when a bell signal is given a predetermined number of times. When an incoming call is detected during the operation in the absence mode, the system controller 5 derives a closing signal to the input / output device 3 to close the device circuit and the telephone line 2, and further comprises a semiconductor memory 6 and a signal conversion circuit 7. The reproduction operation of the memory recording / reproducing device 9 is performed. As a result, the response message OGM written in the semiconductor memory 6 is read out, given to the input / output device 3 through the signal conversion circuit 7, the switch 8, the equalizer amplifier 10 and the buffer amplifier 11, and transmitted through the telephone line 2. Transmitted to the caller.

When the reproduction of the response message OGM is completed, the operation state of the apparatus is switched to the message recording state. Therefore, when the message ICM from the caller is given to the input / output device 3, this is sent to the switch 8, the equalizer amplifier 10,
The data is supplied to a recording / reproducing head 13 of a tape recording / reproducing device 15 through a buffer amplifier 11 and a record equalizer 12, and is recorded on a cassette tape 14. In this case, the bias oscillator 16 is operated, and a bias current is applied to the recording / reproducing head 13.
Further, by applying an erasing current from the bias oscillator 16 to the erasing head 17, the recorded contents are erased.

As shown in the recording format explanatory diagram of FIG. 2, an area 23 for recording a response message OGM is provided at the beginning of the cassette tape 14 from point a to point b of the tape.
Area 24 for recording message message PM from point b to point c
Are provided in order. Then, an area 25 for recording the message ICM from the subsequent point c to the tape end.
Are provided, and the message ICM is sequentially recorded in the order of input. The answering machine of the embodiment is configured to write the response message OGM in the semiconductor memory 6 and read out from the semiconductor memory 6 when an incoming call is received and transmit it to the caller. The response message OGM is used when data in the semiconductor memory 6 is lost and for recovery at the time of rewriting the response message described later.

Message message PM recorded on cassette tape 14
The message ICM can be reproduced by directly operating the apparatus main body or by inputting a predetermined password through the telephone line 2. This reproduced signal is supplied to an equalizer amplifier 10 through a switch 8.
It is applied to a speaker 21 through a volume 18 and a power amplifier 20. The signal output from the equalizer amplifier 10 is applied to the input / output device 3 through the buffer amplifier 11, and is output to the telephone line 2 through the input / output terminals 1a and 1b.

A signal derived from the buffer amplifier 11 to the input / output device 3 is also supplied to the signal detection circuit 22. Signal detection circuit 22
Is provided to detect a polarity reversal signal (CPC) transmitted from the central office at the end of a call, a silent sound, an intermittent sound, and the like.

Reference numeral 36 denotes an operation unit. When various operation buttons and function buttons (not shown) provided for recording and reproduction are operated, corresponding command signals are given to the system controller 5.

A pulse signal is generated according to the running of the cassette tape 14, and the pulse signal is counted by the reel counter 27 to detect the running length of the tape 14, that is, the length from the tape top a point. This count value is derived from the reel counter 27 to the system controller 5 as a current position detection signal of the cassette tape 14. Note that each message recording area 23,
The head positions a, b and c of 24 and 25 are fixed, and a
Since the point is the tape top, the count value of the reel counter 27 is 0. Also, the count values at points b and c are, for example,
45 and 87.

The presence / absence information of the message message PM and the message ICM, the last recording position information of the message by the tape counter 27, and the like are stored in the data memory 5a of the system controller 5, and the reception sensitivity is determined according to the presence or absence of these data. Is switched. In addition, a power indicator lamp is
A message message display lamp 31 and a message message display lamp 32 are provided along with 33, and the presence or absence of message recording can be determined by checking the lighting state of these.

In the answering machine of the embodiment configured as described above, when rewriting the response message OGM sent to the caller, the apparatus main body is operated in the recording mode, and the microphone 34 or the external telephone provided in the main body is operated. Enter a new response message via. The new response message input via these input devices is supplied to a signal conversion circuit 7 through a switch 8, an equalizer amplifier 10, and a buffer amplifier 11, and is converted into a digital signal by this circuit 7 and written into a semiconductor memory 6. Be included. When the maximum recordable time elapses or when the pressing of the response message OGM button and the recording button is stopped, or when a command signal corresponding to the operation is transmitted via a telephone line, the semiconductor memory recording / reproducing device 9 reproduces the data. Operate in mode to check and play back the newly recorded response message OGM. The person who rewrites the response message monitors the playback content with the speaker 21 or an external telephone, and if the recording content is not satisfactory, presses the response message OGM button and the recording button simultaneously, or inputs a recording end command signal from the external telephone. By doing so, the response message recording can be performed again.

When the confirmation reproduction of the recorded contents is completed, the semiconductor memory recording / reproducing device 9 reproduces the newly recorded response message from the beginning again, and the tape recording / reproducing device 15 operates in the recording mode. As a result, transfer recording from the semiconductor memory 6 to the cassette tape 14 is started, and the newly input response message OGM is recorded in the response message recording area 23 of the cassette tape 14.

When recording, the user may not like the newly entered response message due to noise or bad syntax. In such a case, the response message OGM button and the recording button are simultaneously pressed before the transfer recording to the magnetic tape 14 is executed, that is, within 2 seconds after the confirmation reproduction or the completion of the confirmation reproduction, or the identification of the external telephone is performed. By pressing the push button again to end the recording operation again, the newly input response message can be canceled.

That is, when a command signal for ending recording is given to the system controller 5 by performing such an operation, the semiconductor memory recording / reproducing device 9 is switched to the recording mode, and the tape recording / reproducing device 15 is switched to the reproducing mode. . As a result, the old response message before rewriting recorded on the cassette tape 14 is reproduced, and the transfer recording to the semiconductor memory 6 is performed. Therefore, the new response message written in the semiconductor memory 6 is erased, and the response message before rewriting is returned to the semiconductor memory 6.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart when the response message is rewritten by directly operating the main body. In FIG.
When the OGM button and the recording button are simultaneously pressed (step S1), a response message OGM is transmitted from the microphone 34 or the like to the semiconductor memory 6.
Mode (step S2). Note that the response message OGM can be recorded only while the OGM button and the recording button are pressed. Therefore, it is necessary to keep pressing the OGM button and the recording button during recording. When the pressing of the OGM button and the recording button is stopped, or when the maximum recording time of, for example, 8 seconds elapses (step S3), it is checked whether or not the recording time of the OGM exceeds the effective recording time of, for example, 2 seconds ( In step S4), if the recording time of the OGM is 2 seconds or more, the recorded contents in the semiconductor memory 6 are automatically reproduced for checking (step S5). This is monitored through the speaker 21 or the line, and if it is good, it is detected that the OGM button and the recording button are not pressed again (step S6), and the reproduction time exceeds the recording time calculated in step S3, and the automatic reproduction is completed. Then (step S7), the new response message OGM is transferred from the semiconductor memory 6 to the tape 14, recorded and held. This completes the OGM recording and saving.

If the recording content of the new response message OGM is not good, the OGM button and the recording button are simultaneously pressed again during the automatic reproduction in step S5. Pressing in this case is performed within 2 seconds. That is, for example, when the button is pressed and released for one second, a new recording for one second is made in the semiconductor memory 6, and the recording for one second is detected in step S4. In this case, go to step S9 and
From 14, the old response message OGM is transferred and recorded in the semiconductor memory 6 again. That is, the response message OGM is returned to the current state. To further correct the response message OGM, start over from step S1 or execute step S6.
You can start over.

The answering machine of the embodiment can freely select whether to leave the newly input response message or the previous response message at the end of the input of the new response message in this way. Therefore, the user can change the response message without fear of recording failure, and the usability of the function of transmitting the response message can be greatly improved.

It is also possible to provide a transfer canceling button and a transfer canceling code for the telephone line 2 to perform an operation of stopping the transfer recording to the cassette tape 14. A button for transferring a response message from the semiconductor memory 6 to the cassette tape 14 and a button for stopping the transfer to the tape and returning the response message of the cassette tape 14 to the semiconductor memory 6 are provided separately. May be performed manually. In this way, it is possible to select which response message is to be left after confirmation and reproduction of the contents recorded in the memory without any time restriction.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, a response message can be freely transferred between a semiconductor memory recording / reproducing apparatus and a magnetic tape recording / reproducing apparatus, so that the response message written in the semiconductor memory can be freely transmitted. When a cancel operation is performed before the response message is transferred to the magnetic tape for storage, the old response message already recorded on the magnetic tape is transferred to the semiconductor memory in response thereto. Therefore, when the input of the new response message is completed, it is possible to freely select which of the newly input response message and the previously recorded old response message is to be left on the recording medium. Therefore, even if the recording of a new response message fails, the previous response message can be restored, so that the operation of changing the response message can be performed with ease, and the usability of the user can be greatly improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a main part of a telephone answering machine showing one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a recording format of a magnetic tape, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation at the time of rewriting a response message. In the reference numerals used in the drawings, 5: System controller 6: Semiconductor memory 9: Semiconductor memory recording / reproducing device 14: Cassette tape 15: Tape recording / reproducing device ICM: Request message OGM: Response message PM …… Message message.

Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Yoshinori Nakano 6-7-35 Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Inside Sony Corporation (56) References JP-A-53-42609 (JP, A) JP-A-55-83366 JP-A-63-226160 (JP, A) JP-A-63-245167 (JP, A) JP-A-63-253751 (JP, A) JP-A-63-290440 (JP, A) JP-A-1-243650 (JP, A) JP-A-3-3545 (JP, A) JP-A-62-158959 (JP, U) US Patent 4,959,852 (US, A) US Patent 4,989,913 (US, A) UK publication 2190563 (GB, A)

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A recording / reproducing apparatus for a semiconductor memory in which a response message to be transmitted upon receiving an incoming call is written, a recording / reproducing apparatus for a magnetic tape for recording a message of a caller, and the recording / reproducing apparatus for recording a response message. A recording / reproduction control circuit for mutually transmitting response messages between the re-apparatuses, wherein the upper recording / reproduction control circuit transfers the response message written in the semiconductor memory to the magnetic tape for storage, and before the transmission, An answering machine, wherein, when a cancel operation is performed, an old response message already recorded on the magnetic tape is transferred to the semiconductor memory in response thereto.